North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook and Back

Leg 1 -  Bell's Trailhead, Trail;head to Trailhead (S) > Dinosaur Trail > Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area > Dinosaur Trail (S) > Upper Big Hill > service road (S) > Badlands > River Bend > Javalina > Cougar Overlook    6.5 miles

Leg 2 -   Cougar Overlook > service road (WNW) > River Bend (N) > Ghost Camp > Lower Ghost Camp Trail > River Bend Campground > South Slick Rock > trailhead to Trailhead (N) > North Scenic Loop > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Shady Trail > Bell's Trailhead     4.1 miles

Temp started at 70, ended at 86.  Sunny then partly cloudy, slight but steady breeze for most of the hike.

A very good hike along trails that are easy to see but with vegetation starting to cover in places.  Wildflowers are blooming now as are my first of the year cactus flowers as well as a batch of Lace Cactus blooms.  Also saw my first of the year big snake - a 4+ foot long non-rattler.  I also spotted a single feral hog when I reached Cougar Overlook at glanced at the nearly dry North Concho River.

I founbd a juvenile racoon trapped in the dumpster when I arrived at 0700.  I put some branches in so he could climb out and went on my hike.  When I returned almost 5 hours later, he was still scared and huddled in teh dumpster.  I put in more branches and called the park office - they said they would send a ranger out to rescue him so I hope that went well.

There were a few people on the trails but for the vast majority of time, I was alone. 

NOTES

Info kiosk and a bicycle reapir station are available at Bell's Trailhead.  Water and shade are available in the nearby campground.

Water, shade and info kiosk available at the Dinosaur Tracks Viewing Area.

Shade, info kiosk and a bicycl repair station available at Cougar Overlook.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at the River Bend Campground.